The Ateneo Blue Eagles get win no. 2 at the expense of the NU Bulldogs to begin the second round of UAAP Season 87.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles are back on the win column, surviving NU’s comeback try late in their second round encounter in UAAP Season 87 for a 70-68 victory at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, October 13.
The Blue Eagles, towed by a clutch sequence from Kristian Porter on both ends of the court, squeaked by the Bulldogs who were unable to get off a shot in the final possession of the ball game. Ateneo arrested a three-game losing skid with the win.
Porter converted on a clutch basket to put the Blue Eagles ahead, 68-65, with 27.3 ticks remaining. Despite missing on the bonus free throw, Porter made up for it with a block on Jake Figueroa at the other end in the next possession.
This forced NU to play the foul game and sent Ian Espinosa to the foul line. Things were made interesting when Espinosa split his free throws and Jolo Manansala converted on a triple for NU, making it a one point game at 69-68 with 5.1 seconds left.
Even as Ateneo left the door open with another Espinosa split at the charity stripe, NU just couldn’t get a proper shot up in the dying seconds.
Porter nabbed Player of the Game honors with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, along with two blocks, while Jared Bahay flourished with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal.
Figueroa paced NU in the losing effort with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists in the losing effort.
Both teams are now 2-6 in the standings.